How many renters in Imperial, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Imperial, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

44.5% (±13.9 points) of renting households in Imperial, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

31.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 28.8% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 44.5% (±13.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 31.3% (±11.1 points)
Median share of income: 28.8% (±2.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in Imperial

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Imperial	Imperial County	California	United States
Less than 15%	11.2% (±7.7 points)	13.1%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.4% (±7.8 points)	9.3%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	9.7% (±7.8 points)	12.1%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	23.2% (±16.2 points)	12.4%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	13.2% (±8.3 points)	9.5%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	31.3% (±11.1 points)	43.5%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Imperial against Imperial County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Imperial	Imperial County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	44.5% (±13.9 points)	53.0% (±3.6 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	31.3% (±11.1 points)	43.5% (±3.0 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	28.8% (±2.5 points)	31.6% (±1.6 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$51,424 (±$5,547)	$38,992 (±$2,428)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,255 (±$316)	$1,056 (±$30)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Imperial, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Imperial County (53.0%).

It is not measurably different from California (55.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Imperial County, Imperial ranks 10 of 11 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 851 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Imperial

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Imperial
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Imperial	—	44.5% (±13.9 points)	—
El Centro	3.7 mi	54.0% (±5.9 points)	Not measurably different
Seeley	7.4 mi	27.0% (±35.4 points)	Not measurably different
Heber	7.8 mi	44.9% (±21.0 points)	Not measurably different
Brawley	10.0 mi	48.9% (±8.7 points)	Not measurably different
Holtville	11 mi	46.6% (±19.2 points)	Not measurably different
Calexico	12 mi	59.7% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
Westmorland	14 mi	57.4% (±21.1 points)	Not measurably different
Calipatria	23 mi	55.4% (±30.1 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Imperial County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
4	Salton City	56.5% (±31.9 points)
5	Calipatria	55.4% (±30.1 points)
6	El Centro	54.0% (±5.9 points)
7	Brawley	48.9% (±8.7 points)
8	Holtville	46.6% (±19.2 points)
9	Heber	44.9% (±21.0 points)
10	Imperial	44.5% (±13.9 points)
11	Seeley	27.0% (±35.4 points)

Showing 8 of 11 places in Imperial County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Imperial

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Imperial, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Imperial beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Imperial, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about Imperial

Are renters in Imperial rent-burdened?

44.5% of renting households in Imperial pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Imperial spend on rent?

The median renting household in Imperial, CA spends 28.8% (±2.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Imperial city, California (place:36280, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.